Below the obsidian plane, Twilight's physical body hugged her daughter. The dark stormy clouds of Night's realm fit Twilight's current mood.
"How was accepting that duel any better than premeditated murder?"
"What answer do you want?" Sweet Dreams' voice, as enchanting as ever, lifted Twilight's mood from the very first syllable.
Dreams' voice had a magic to it, almost as potent as her scent or the warmth of her wings as they closed around her. Twilight purred lightly as she leaned into the embrace. It was such a simple thing, the touch of another. It was truly amazing how much simple biochemistry and affection could rule her emotions. For a moment, her mind paused. She glanced down at her body that Night currently piloted. The body that had all the needed biology to allow for the intoxicating effects her Dreams caused by even her presence. She was going to have to do a study on it. Later… She thought as she sighed in peaceful contentment.
Minutes passed as Little Star pranced around, joyously regaling Night with her defences of the relief convoys and her improved mastery of spellcraft.
Night's pride in their daughter's deeds seeped into Twilight's heart, and she welcomed it.
"She is a little literal-minded."
Various lessons Twilight remembered came to mind. The mistakes she made by being too literal, being too eager to please Celestia. None of the doubt or angry thoughts thinking of her former teacher often brought stood a chance against Dreams' comforting warmth.
"She gets it from me." Twilight closed her eyes and nuzzled into Dreams' chest. The wings tightened around her, encasing her, holding her tight in a warm shell of loving protection.
"You grew past it, as shall she."
"Hmm."
"So, are you a murderer?"
Twilight thought about the question. Really thought about it. The battles she had been in, every time she lashed out in anger. She had been cruel at times, brutal even, but each and every time it would have become murder, she had stopped. Sometimes she had taken that step back herself, but other times there had been external prompting. Night, Rainbow, Candice, and even Celestia had all stopped her from gaining that title so far. She shook her head. "No… at least not yet."
"Did you demand this duel be to the death?" Twilight had not even got her mouth open to speak before Dreams' nuzzle became a kiss. "Griffons like Red Wing seek conflict, dream of having power over all."
"So, that means he deserves to die?"
Sweet Dreams nuzzled Twilight's neck. Her warm breath tickled her ear as she whispered into it. "Recall his words, his posturing. I will tell you what sort of creature he is. If you had sent another here in your stead, he would have attacked them and slaughtered them eagerly. Him being willing to kill those who came here to help, after hiding away like a snivelling coward, marks him for death."
Red Wing was not out to prove his honour, was not out to challenge an equal. No, he challenged her because he 'knew' she was just a weak pony. How dare he… Silence rang loudly in Twilight's mind as realisation struck like lightning. I want to kill him…
"Now," Dreams cooed in her ear. "This is what you need to do…"
I think that point became moot when you started transmogrifying people into plants that live in eternal screaming agony.
11528464
so true
Step 1, go for the testicles, and hope he hasn't already had any offspring.
No need to kill.
On the contrary, humiliate your enemy by letting him attack without retaliating, let everyone see how incapable he is, and when he himself no longer believes in his daydream, when despair can be read in his eyes and everyone can read it in his movements, then only counterattack, and break him.
Let his followers pick up a body they thought dead before realizing that his wounds are still bleeding, and that it would have been better if he had not "miraculously" escaped his fate.
Rather than a martyr, it is better to have a living enemy who can no longer fly, who needs a cane to walk and who can only eat through a straw and who laments his fate to remind everyone of the cost of defying a princess.
I forget that Dream was an aspect of Night. Things like this remind me of that. Not saying that Dream is just like Night, but she does have a similar world view at times.